I did say I would explain how my DN came to trust Loghain. I suppose right now is a decent time to elaborate on that.
First, one must understand that while some things differ in my DN's tale of events, ultimately it changes little. Second, my Aeducan saw Fereldan politics as being akin to a child's plaything compared to the brutal intrigue of Dwarven politics. Oh, that's not to say that he did not find them to be brutal themselves, only that Dwarven politics were much worse.
It was simplistic, easily maneuvered for him.
But let's start off with Ostagar, shall we? Upon arriving with Duncan and Darius Brosca (other Warden Origin recruits had arrived ahead of them), he was dumbfounded at Cailan's lack of respect for the lives of his men. All this manchild of a king can say every few minutes is "glory this, glory that". It infuriated him to see a commander -- a king no less -- not take the Darkspawn seriously just because battles came easily for them thus far.
That was a familiar tale. The Dwarves thought the same thing when they fought the Darkspawn initially, yet look at what it cost them. An entire empire, gone without a trace, leaving only vestigial remnants.
Then, when he hears that Cailan is refusing reinforcements who are only a week away, he couldn't contain himself any longer. He spoke up and chided Cailan for his childish mentality. Duncan wasn't pleased, but Xanthos didn't care. He couldn't leave such a state of affairs like that all because of some silly notions of "keep quiet and appease the nobles" that Duncan espoused.
Mind you, he did not hate Duncan, but he found that he was operating on the wrong side of things. You can advise the crown and your allies without antagonizing them and without playing the fool. Cailan didn't take it to heart as he should've. Indeed, Cailan just seemed to pass it off and mention how it was like he was around Loghain again.
After Duncan reprimanded him, the two of them got into a heated discussion on it, with both conceding that perhaps their form could use a bit of work.
Darius and Xanthos were given the option to explore, which they elected to do. My DN would teach Darius about Dwarven lore and history -- indeed, shedding light on the nature and construction of Ostagar -- while the two of them also talked to various soldiers.
They found out that for every hour, two units of men (a unit seems to be four people in Thedas) arrived every hour, with the following day leading some to believe it will double. Even so, the Teyrn -- the one whom Duncan believes will make the difference -- worries that might not have been enough.
He then talked to the Ishal guard to find out that lower passages were being explored, that Loghain had discovered them three years prior through word of his second-in-command Cauthrien and was double-checking their routes for anything that could pose a threat to the battle*. Xanthos found this to be sensible. Three years might've changed a bit on the layout. Debris could've fallen and thus rendered any maps made to be not quite as accurate.
The two of them then crossed the bridge and talked to another soldier who informed them that the Chantry was here, tending to the wounded and offering spiritual guidance, as well as the Circle of Magi. Darius was curious as to how many mages were there (a curiosity my DN shared) but when told only less then a dozen mages were sent from the Circle with only perhaps thirty to forty Templars*, Xanthos was understandably perturbed.
Magic is incredibly useful towards fighting the Darkspawn. Templar abilities as well. To find that Ferelden's forces at Ostagar are being denied two of their most useful assets in fighting the Blight made him question what in the hell was going on in the minds of the officials. This was something he'd known well through his time interacting with Dwarven nobility.
But he didn't lose hope yet. A fool of a king and a lack of additional forces doesn't mean things are without promise. Success can still be achieved. So he presses on, talking to Daveth and Jory, forming a basis of an opinion on them. Daveth shows promise.
But something catches his eye. Or rather, his ear. He hears the ramblings of a man, begging for everyone to get out while they still can. Darius walked over to see the man and hear his words, with Xanthos standing a bit away, and the man was in such a panicked state that he likened the Darkspawn to caterpillars on a tree.
Understandably, Darius was unnerved. He had fought only a few Darkspawn in the Deep Roads through their journeys. With a hand on his compatriot's shoulder, my DN calmed my DC and assuaged his fears, though taking in the comments of another injured party who said that he "could feel it inside of him". That "he calls".
He may not have been a Warden yet, but he knew enough about Darkspawn from his studies to know that if you hear a calling, it's an Archdemon.
Jump across the encampment towards the area where archers are practicing, a sergeant is giving tips on Darkspawn, and two soldiers are discussing things about the battles. He heard talk of ghouls, which is not good for morale. He heard them mention Ogres, knowing full well what that meant. They were living siege weapons of the Darkspawn, able to destroy fortifications and hurl boulders as if they were nothing.
Knowing that Ogres can number well into the dozens, he feared for the state of Ostagar, who had little weapons of their own (as in ballistae, catapults, trebuchets, **** like that). Oh, they had some, but they did not seem to be enough (and I'd argue, perhaps not all in the best places).
Next he heard, from various sources, the resentment on calling for Orlais for aid. Many soldiers were accepting of the idea, but just as many voiced their disapproval with it. He could empathize a bit with that. Orlais' history is checkered, especially during Blights, but at the same time he wondered whether people were being sensible. On the one hand, it's a risk, but on the other hand, a calculated one that brings with it more reinforcements.
However, Orlais should not be the one people go to for immediate assistance. The journey through the Frostbacks or across the Waking Sea/Amaranthine Ocean would take far too long.
So he does not begrudge anyone their skeptical -- if not dismissive -- attitude towards Orlesian assistance.
What else was there? Well, there was the scout in the Wilds, who talked of how his entire forces were decimated and had to deliver his message (funnily, I've always heard a thump as he left so I think he didn't make it as far as he thought he could =P).
There's also the problems at the war council, where Cailan thinks it'd be wise to wait for reinforcements that will take at least a month and a half to reach them (the pass down/up the Frostbacks takes at least two weeks, per its description). This is the same man who denied forces that were a week away (less in fact!). Also the Chantry shooting down Uldred's idea for no reason other then that he was a mage.
Also what Cailan's Royal Guard says about him. First, that he routinely blows off Loghain. Second, that he drinks. He's drinking... before a damn battle. ****** hell, that's all you need -- a commander who's drunk. Drinking is fine as a celebratory measure after a particularly hard-won battle, but before is just... asinine.
The battle itself had its own problems, like how Ostagar is being used in an improper fashion. A fortress is meant to keep its forces safe and inside, yet they're fighting outside. My guess is that because Cailan wants his big heroic charge that will be sung from history for ages to come, Loghain was forced to capitulate and form a strategy that could work based on what info they have.
But then it just grew worse, from Cailan's use of one volley of arrows rather then a protracted assault from archers stationed behind the army under his command (preferably by archers behind a phalanx formation) to his wasting of Mabari troops (who work much better as support units rather then on their own, unless you're going up against mounted enemies who will actually know fear) and finally to his reckless charge out into the valley.
Throw in everything that happened with Ishal to the Wardens' keeping Loghain and Cailan in the dark (in my headcanon, Duncan told my DN he was going to tell those two certain information, true or not, after the battle to convince them it was a Blight) and my DN could not hold Ostagar against Loghain.
My DN also heard enough rumors about the ongoing Civil War in Ferelden to piece together what happened, and while he condemned Loghain as a fool of a politician he knew he was stuck between a rock and a hard place and that he did not seek a Civil War at all (I can go into detail on what the rumors about the war signify). Damaeus and Amalia Cousland had informed him of what Howe had done.
With Howe in control of a vast swarm of land, that posed a military threat that Loghain needed to keep on his side. Supply lines and needed manpower were in Howe's control. Unfortunately, Howe was not a team player, as evidenced by his embezzling, rampant culling of dissenters, kidnapping nobility and torturing them, etc.
Being sent an assassin was not something he found to be a mark against Loghain either. Assassination was commonplace for him. He foiled so many attempts on his life that he was inured to it all. Rather, he finds that if someone tries to kill him, it means they recognize him as a threat and he takes it as a compliment.
Also he got a good friend out of it, with vital information on Antivan politics.
Loghain also sought out an alliance with the Circle and the Dwarves. Though his approach was not the best for the latter (by sending a fool of an ambassador, a man who puts the ass in that word) and Uldred fucked up the former, Loghain's intentions were solid.
The slavery one is the only thing my DN truly holds him accountable for, but he was able to grasp everything that led up to it being made.
In the end, my DN saw where Loghain was coming from in all regards, because he did not just accept the notion of "THIS IS A BAD MAN".
And that's why he trusted Loghain. He could see the man behind the curtain. Besides, at the point of where he can be recruited, Loghain can't feasibly do anything more without hurting his image further. If he betrays me, it marks against him. If he fights with me, it helps redeem him in the eyes of those who reviled him for his actions.
* Yes I realize some things differ, like how I have multiple Wardens or the exact nature of Ishal's lower levels or whatever. But I don't take away from the major elements too much.
TLDR is that my Aeducan was a shrewd, cunning, perceptive person who did not let others dictate his thoughts on a subject, but rather formed his own opinions based on all the information he could gather.
Retour en haut
" or some kind of crap.... its a little creepy.
